A third dose of coronavirus vaccine it may be necessary to prevent serious cases of new variants of the disease, Bill Gates he said Tuesday. The comments of the billionaire philanthropist arrive in the middle of the growing concern that current vaccines are less effective against South African and Brazilian variants.
“The question now is whether we only need super high coverage of the current vaccine, or do we need an equal third dose or do we need a modified vaccine?” Gates told Norah O’Donnell, presentation director and director of “CBS Evening News.”
“The five companies that have vaccines in the U.S. are studying making that modification and adding that so people who have already had two shots should receive a third shot,” he said. “I think it’s reasonably likely that we’ll have a vaccine adjusted just to make sure absolutely that as these variants get to the U.S. that they don’t escape vaccine protection.”
Gates is funding studies in South Africa to determine whether the AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson i Novavax vaccines were so effective against the most contagious variant.
“AstraZeneca, in particular, has a challenge with the variant. And the other two, Johnson & Johnson and Novavax, are a little less effective, but still effective enough that we should get them out as quickly as possible as we study this tuning idea. vaccine, “Gates said.
If the coronavirus is not eradicated, he said, additional traits may be needed in the future. “Probably not every year, but as long as it’s out there, we want as many Americans as possible not to spread among themselves,” he said.
Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former head of the Food and Drug Administration, he said CBS News’ “Face the Nation” on Feb. 7 believed the vaccines currently being distributed in the U.S. will offer “reasonable protection” against new variants, even if they are less effective against new strains. However, he said, it may also be necessary to administer booster shots in the fall.
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